Overview
ISO 37123:2019, "Sustainable cities and communities - Indicators for resilient cities," defines standardized definitions and methodologies for a set of measurable indicators that assess urban resilience. Applicable to any city, municipality or local government, the standard enables comparable and verifiable measurement of resilience performance regardless of size or location. ISO 37123 is intended for use in conjunction with ISO 37120 (city service and quality-of-life indicators) and follows the strategic principles of ISO 37101.
Key technical topics and requirements
ISO 37123 structures resilience measurement around topic-specific indicators with clear requirements, recommended data sources and guidance on interpretation. Key technical areas covered include:
Each indicator includes: general intent, indicator requirements, suggested data sources and guidance on data interpretation to ensure consistent, verifiable reporting.
Practical applications and who uses it
ISO 37123 helps cities translate resilience goals into actionable, measurable results. Typical uses include:
- Baseline assessment and ongoing monitoring of urban resilience performance
- Benchmarking across cities for policy evaluation and peer comparison
- Prioritizing investments in disaster risk reduction, infrastructure and emergency preparedness
- Supporting funding proposals, insurance underwriting, and resilience certification programs
- Informing resilience-related public reporting and stakeholder communication
Primary users:
- City planners, local governments and resilience officers
- Emergency management agencies and public works departments
- Urban sustainability teams, NGOs and community organizations
- Insurers, investors and researchers focused on urban risk and climate adaptation
Related standards
- ISO 37120 - city indicators for services and quality of life (recommended companion)
- ISO 37101 - sustainable development in communities - management systems and strategic frameworks
Keywords: ISO 37123, resilient cities indicators, sustainable cities, urban resilience measurement, disaster risk reduction, ISO 37120, ISO 37101.